I was raised with an understanding of logic, due largely to re-runs of Star Trek (Classic series). I was also raised with an understanding of ESP/intuition, due largely to being an identical twin. For me, the challenge is wrangling these two disparate methods in making decisions. As a Reiki Practioner, I use Reiki to keep my third eye clear and I also use Reiki on my Tarot and Faery Oracle decks. Doing readings for others is a privilege and a delight for me.
When it comes to making choices for myself, however, I also try to employ at least a little common sense and logic. But if something looks good but feels bad…that’s when intuition trumps logic. There have been times when I tried to make the intelligent decision and lay aside my doubts and fears, only to discover that my doubts and fears were correct. Intuition can warn you off of making horrible mistakes. A term that I’ve heard of in regards to business decisions is you “swallow the deal” and if it makes you feel queezy, it’s best to pass this one by.
Sometimes I run into people who make all their decisions with their intuition, and appear to have made some foolish choices. I find it best to weigh the consequences when my first instict says to go for it. There have been times when I just see what I want to see, or my ego gets involved and I confuse that for intuition. I try to get a second opinion from a trusted friend and intuitive in these cases now. All of us have our blinders on sometimes, even Reiki Masters, and knowing when to ask for help comes in very handy. Ultimately, the TANSTAAFL principle really does apply in most situations.
There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch
I do believe that the Universe wants what’s best for us, and our narrow viewpoints can limit what is possible. At the same time, I don’t trust everything that is written on the internet, especially when it involves some kind of monetary investments or business decisions. As an artist, I was often approached by licensors to use my artwork in manufacturing different products. In one instance, I signed a contract that I regretted later. My friend gave me a reading and warned me against it, and I ignored her advice to my peril.
The truth is that while the Universe wants what’s best for you, many people out there do not. They may say that they love you and stroke your ego. It feels good to hear those things, and it’s easy to get caught up in a bad situation as a result. I’m learning as I go in this life, as we all are.
I have given readings to people who have already made up their minds about something, and they ignore or argue with the advice that I have to offer. Having done the same myself, I have compassion for them, and I do my best to impart the information and let them know how the situation appears on an energy level. Some people get readings to validate their decisions, and when the reading disagrees with that, they really don’t want to hear it.Â
Emotions are often confused with intuition, and it’s taken a lot of practice and meditation on my part to differentiate between the two. One thing that I’ve learned about my intuition is that it operates outside of my emotions. A strong intuition tends to give me goosebumps, while a strong emotion can overwhelm my common sense.  It’s a balancing act, and I use logic and intellect to detect fraud and deceit. They are very handy for that.
Recently I had my intuition and intellect tested in regards to a new healing modality someone introduced in my Reiki Share. I approached it with an open mind, though ultimately I didn’t care for the results. I developed a mild headache after receiving the treatment and didn’t feel the energy that I normally do during my Reiki Shares. I later did some research on the Internet and was not able to confirm the claims that were proposed as to the effectiveness and science behind the modality.
All practitioners of complimentary therapies like Reiki have to be well educated in their modality, and have the documentation to back up any claims. Intuition does not count as documentation. Many of these modalities use scientific lingo in order to promote expensive products, and we must be very wary when dealing with this. We all end up looking like Flaky New Agers when we buy into what is essentially a marketing gimmick. High cost for classes, retreats and products really should be a big red flag for us. We need to use all of our brains, not just the creative intuitive side, in testing for the truth.
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Please see the Center for Reiki Research for evidence based research of Reiki as a modality for improving wellness.